Breaking News Barmes to return Monday

Tabloid Paige

Fantasy Baseball News

DENVER --activated Barmes on Sunday, in time for the start of a three-game series with the Royals on Monday.

Read more...

Fantasy Baseball 7 Day DL Watch List

Fantsy Basball News
7 day DL List
By Scorbe
June/21/2008

6/21/08 Crisp, Coco CF BOS 7-game suspension. Appeal to be heard June 23
6/16/08 Casey, Sean 1B BOS 3-game suspension. Appeal to be heard June 23
6/15/08 Jackson, Edwin SP TB 5-game suspension. Playing amid appeal
6/8/08 Iwamura, Akinori 3B TB 3-game suspension. Playing amid appeal
6/21/08 Jones, Chipper 3B ATL Quadriceps Out until at least June 23-25 series vs. Milwaukee
6/21/08 Cameron, Mike CF MIL Toe Questionable for June 21-22 vs. Baltimore
6/21/08 Laird, Gerald C TEX Hamstring 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/21/08 Inge, Brandon 3B DET Questionable for June 21-22 at San Diego
6/21/08 Kouzmanoff,Kevin 3B SD Back Doubtful for June 21-22 vs. Detroit
6/21/08 Durham, Ray 2B SF Ankle Questionable for June 21-22 at Kansas City
6/21/08 Barmes, Clint SS COL DL On Triple-A rehab assignment. Might return for June 21-22 vs. N.Y. Mets
6/21/08 Boone, Aaron 1B WAS Questionable for June 21-22 vs. Texas
6/21/08 Izturis, Cesar SS STL Doubtful for June 21-22 at Boston
6/21/08 Escobar, Yunel SS ATL Questionable Hip Questionable for June 21-22 vs. Seattle
6/21/08 Clement, Matt SP STL 15-day DL. On Triple-A rehab assignment
6/20/08 Doumit, Ryan C PIT Concussion Questionable for June 21-22 vs. Toronto
6/20/08 Byrnes, Eric CF ARI Hamstrings 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment. Expected to return for June 23-25 series at Boston
6/20/08 Bradley, Milton OF TEX Questionable for June 21-22 at Washington
6/20/08 Mulder, Mark SP STL 15-day DL. On Triple-A rehab assignment
6/20/08 Macri, Matt 3B MIN Calf Questionable for June 21-22 vs. Arizona
6/20/08 Hairston, Jerry LF CIN 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/20/08 Bedard, Erik SP SEA Questionable for June 25 start at N.Y. Mets
6/20/08 Schilling, Curt SP BOS DL Shoulder Out for season
6/20/08 Nady, Xavier RF PIT Doubtful for June 21-22 series vs. Toronto
6/20/08 Mathis, Doug P TEX Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/20/08 Blalock, Hank 3B TEX Wrist 15-day DL. On Triple-A rehab assignment. Might return for June 24-26 series at Houston
6/20/08 Cuddyer, Michael RF MIN Personal Probable for June 21-22 vs. Arizona
6/20/08 Edmonds, Jim CF CHC Foot Questionable for June 21-22 series vs. Chicago White Sox
6/20/08 Punto, Nick 3B MIN Hamstring 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment. Might return for June 23-25 series at San Diego
6/20/08 Pena, Carlos 1B TB Finger 15-day DL. Might return for June 24-25 series at Florida
6/20/08 Johnson, Reed LF CHC Back Available to pinch hit. Questionable for June 21-22 series vs. Chicago White Sox
6/19/08 Kuroda, Hiroki SP LA Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/19/08 Zambrano, Carlos SP CHC Shoulder Out until at least June 29 start at Chicago White Sox
6/18/08 Duchscherer,Justin RP OAK Hip Probable for June 22 start vs. Florida
6/18/08 Abreu, Tony 3B LA Groin, hip 60-day DL. Out for the season
6/18/08 Blackburn, Nick SP MIN Elbow Probable for June 21 start vs. Arizona
6/18/08 Konerko, Paul 1B CHW Oblique 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Wang, Chien-Ming SP NYY Foot 15-day DL. Out until at least early September
6/18/08 Hafner, Travis DH CLE Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL Elbow Out until at least June 25 start at Detroit
6/18/08 Stauffer, Tim SP SD Shoulder 60-day DL. Out for the season
6/18/08 Choate, Randy RP MIL Finger 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/18/08 Johnson, Josh SP FLA Elbow 60-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/18/08 Bard, Josh C SD Free DL Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Young, Chris R. SP SD Nose 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 Bennett, Gary C LA 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Pujols, Albert 1B STL Calf 15-day DL. Eligible to return June 26 at Detroit
6/18/08 Estes, Shawn SP SD Thumb 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 Jones, Andruw CF LA Knee 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Albaladejo, Jonathan RP NYY Elbow 60-day DL. Out for the season
6/18/08 Furcal, Rafael SS LA Back 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 Wells, Kip SP COL Hand 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 Garciaparra, Nomar 1B LA Calf 60-day DL. On Triple-A rehab assignment
6/18/08 Loewen, Adam SP BAL Elbow 15-day DL. On Double-A rehab assignment
6/18/08 Bowie, Micah SP COL Forearm 60-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 Wainwright, Adam SP STL Finger 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Bonderman, Jeremy SP DET Shoulder 15-day DL. Might be out for the season
6/18/08 Roberts, Dave LF SF Knee 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/18/08 De Aza, Alejandro OF FLA Ankle 60-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/18/08 Iguchi, Tadahito 2B SD Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/17/08 Colon, Bartolo SP BOS Back 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/17/08 Penny, Brad SP LA Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/17/08 Barfield, Josh 2B CLE Finger 15-day DL. Out until at least early August
6/17/08 Matsuzaka, Daisuke SP BOS Shoulder 15-day DL. Expected to return for June 21 start vs. St. Louis
6/17/08 Soriano, Alfonso LF CHC Hand 15-day DL. Out until at least mid-July
6/17/08 Martinez, Victor C CLE Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early August
6/17/08 Baldelli, Rocco CF TB Illness 60-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/17/08 Sheffield, Gary DH DET Oblique, shoulder 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/16/08 Bierd, Randor RP BAL Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/16/08 Duffy, Chris CF PIT Shoulder 15-day DL. On Double-A rehab assignment
6/16/08 Alou, Moises RF NYM Calf 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/16/08 Kotsay, Mark CF ATL Back 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/16/08 Escobar, Kelvim SP ANA Shoulder 60-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/16/08 Pagan, Angel LF NYM Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/16/08 Vargas, Jason M. SP NYM Hip 15-day DL. Out until at least early August
6/16/08 Glavine, Tom SP ATL Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/16/08 Bootcheck, Chris RP ANA Forearm 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Carpenter, Chris SP STL Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early August
6/15/08 Fox, Chad RP CHC Hand 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Putz, J.J. RP SEA Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Cameron, Kevin RP SD Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Zimmerman, Ryan 3B WAS Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/15/08 Schmidt, Jason SP LA Shoulder 60-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/15/08 Soriano, Rafael RP ATL Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Kearns, Austin RF WAS Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Cordero, Chad RP WAS Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Everett, Adam SS MIN Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Perez, Odalis SP WAS Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Valdez, Merkin RP SF Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Gardner, Lee RP FLA Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Ward, Daryle 1B CHC Back 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Bale, John RP KC Shoulder, hand 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Westbrook, Jake SP CLE Elbow 60-day DL. Out for the season
6/15/08 Johnson, Nick 1B WAS Wrist 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Brackman, Andrew SP NYY Elbow 60-day DL. Out for the season
6/15/08 Gagne, Eric RP MIL Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Mitre, Sergio SP FLA Forearm 60-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/15/08 Devine, Joey RP OAK Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 McCarthy, Brandon SP TEX Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/15/08 Nunez, Leo SP KC Latisimus 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Denorfia, Chris LF OAK Back 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Carroll, Brett OF FLA Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/15/08 Estrada, Johnny C WAS Elbow 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Kennedy, Ian SP NYY Ribcage, shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/15/08 Wagner, Ryan RP WAS Shoulder 60-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/14/08 Willingham, Josh LF FLA Back 15-day DL. On Double-A rehab assignment
6/13/08 Loaiza, Esteban SP CHW Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/13/08 Hughes, Phil SP NYY Rib 15-day DL. Out until at least late August
6/13/08 Thomas, Frank DH OAK Quadriceps 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/13/08 Reyes, Al RP TB Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/12/08 Fogg, Josh SP CIN Back 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/12/08 Wilson, Vance C DET Elbow 15-day DL. Out for the season
6/11/08 Hernandez, Orlando SP NYM Foot 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/11/08 Keppinger, Jeff SS CIN Knee 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/11/08 Prado, Martin 2B ATL Thumb 15-day DL. Out until at least late June
6/11/08 Wise, Matt RP NYM Shoulder 15-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/11/08 Accardo, Jeremy RP TOR Forearm 15-day DL. On Class A rehab assignment
6/11/08 Stewart, Shannon LF TOR Ankle 15-day DL. Out until at least early July
6/11/08 Kinney, Josh RP STL Elbow 60-day DL. Out until at least late July
6/10/08 Church, Ryan CF NYM Concussion 15-day DL. Out until at least late June

Read more...

Working The Waiver Wire Get'em Set'em

Fantasy Baseball News

Pickup Lines:

Sifting through the streaks

June 20, 2008

By Matthew Lutovsky

This happens all the time when you search by raw numbers or overall rank.
The key to searching by time-span is knowing what to look for (and what to ignore). Here are the pros and cons of the seven-day, 15-day, and 30-day searches:

Seven-day

Pro:

You find out who's hot right now. If you're looking for immediate help, this is the search for you. Sure, anyone can have a good week, but there's a decent chance that player will continue their hot streak into the next week.

Con:

Stats can be skewed. This pertains to what I talked about last week -- one game can inflate a player's totals. Sometimes, a player might have only had one good game in the seven-day span, but it's enough to get them near the top of the search results. The most untrustworthy stat for this is RBIs. Just one three-run double or a random grand slam can make a player's RBI total look a lot better than normal. The best stats to look at are hits and runs. They give you a good sense of how "locked in" the player is at the plate and what kind of protection he has hitting behind him.
Stats can also be skewed based on where a guy played that particular week, so it's important to check out his game log. If he had games in Colorado, Philadelphia or Cincinnati (to name a few hitter-friendly parks), that could have inflated his numbers.

Pro:

It's the best way to find the most recent call-ups and guys returning from injury. Even a 15-day search might omit some of these guys. Of course, if it's a top prospect (such as Chase Headley) or high-profile player, chances are you'll be aware of them. Nonetheless, it's easy to overlook/forget about some lower-profile but still helpful players.

Case in point:

Earlier this year, I was looking for a middle infielder who could help with steals. After doing a search, I settled on sticking with Felipe Lopez, who was slumping at the time. Had I narrowed my search to "past seven days," I would've surely seen Alexi Casilla's name and added him. Trust me when I say Casilla would've been far more helpful than Lopez.

Con:

It's pretty useless for pitchers. Often, the seven-day search for pitchers will only cover one start. That doesn't help you much. Reserve this type of search for offensive players.
15-day

Pro:

Lets you know who's hot and has some staying power. This is probably the best overall way to search for immediate offensive help. Many of the guys on the 15-day list also will be on the seven-day list ... only they've been hot even longer.

Con:

The hot streak could be coming to an end. If it's a random player, 15 days of solid baseball might be all they have in them. Thus, they might be at their expiration date when you get around to picking them up. In fact, they might already have started their decline five days ago, but they're still on the list because of the first 10. Nevertheless, I still think this is the "best" time-span to search by.
30-day
Pro: Find out who's had sustained, consistent success. As discussed in a previous column, the 30-day search is better for those looking for long-term help. It's useful when you're simply looking for upgrades as opposed to the next "superstar." By filtering your search by the past 30 days, you get more useful results than you'd get by simply using "season rank" as your search criteria.
Con: Less likely to find significant, immediate offensive help. Let's face it -- if a player is really performing well, they'll be claimed before 30 days are up. So, like I said, this search is better suited for long-term upgrades.
Pro: Works great when searching for pitchers. The 30-day search will usually encompass five or six starts -- a good number when searching for productive pitchers. Seven days is too small of a sample size, and even 15 days usually doesn't get the job done. But 30 days is a far better indicator of who's been pitching well lately and who's worthy of adding. It's definitely a better indicator of a pitcher's value than searching by season rank. A lot of guys have rough starts but round into form later in the year. The 30-day search filters out those rough starts and gives you an idea of who you can count on.
Now that we know what to look for, let's put it into practice by analyzing some of the highest-ranked, likely available players based on each time-span.

Seven-day

OF/1B Marcus Thames, Tigers. There's a good chance Thames has already been picked up in your league (he's owned in 51 percent of SN leagues). After all, he has hit six home runs in his past six games. Thames did it in tough hitters parks -- Detroit and San Francisco. He is certainly hot right now, but don't expect it to last. Not only is playing time a concern, but there also are these two telling numbers from his seven-day splits: seven runs scored and eight RBIs. When a guy has hit six homers, you'd expect his runs and RBIs to be higher.
3B/OF Russell Branyan, Brewers. Branyan also is on a tear. He's homered in each of his past three games, giving him four overall in the past seven days. He's only scored five runs, but he does have eight RBIs (to go along with a .389 average). Branyan looks to be a great quick-fix, but the odds of him lasting are very slim. This is the same guy who has bounced around seven organizations in the past 10 years, failing to hit higher than .257 in any of his seasons in the majors. He strikes out a ton (eight in the past seven days), and he's much better at home than on the road. Eight of his home runs -- including all four this past week -- have come at Miller Park. After a three-game home series with Baltimore this weekend, Milwaukee goes on the road for 10 straight. Uh-oh. Plus, he might lose playing time when Rickie Weeks comes back from his knee injury.

OF Coco Crisp, Red Sox. Crisp has been doing a bit of everything over the past seven days. He's hitting .313 with four runs, three homers, seven RBIs and two steals. It should be noted both steals came in one game, and all of his games in that time span have come in three of the best hitters parks in baseball -- Fenway, Great American Ball Park and Citizens Bank Park. However, it is encouraging that he's put up those solid numbers while not even starting two games because of interleague and a hand injury. If his hand isn't seriously hurt (Red Sox officials don't think it is), grab Crisp and ride out this hot streak. It's going to end sometime, but as long as David Ortiz is hurt and the Red Sox are playing in AL parks (they only have one more road interleague series), Crisp should play almost every day. He has the all-around game to help your squad.
15-daySP Braden Looper, Cardinals. Over his past three starts, Looper has gone 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 11 Ks in 22 innings. And it wasn't as if he had overly favorable matchups. Sure, facing the Royals at home was nice, but Houston and Cincinnati on the road weren't exactly cakewalks. Looper is one of those inconsistent pitchers who can get into grooves and really help a fantasy team. Of course, when he's bad, he tends to be really bad. His next start is at Detroit, and he's at Kansas City after that. He actually pitches considerably better on the road (3.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP compared to 4.50 ERA and 1.54 WHIP at home), so have no fear about grabbing him and putting him in your rotation. You won't get many strikeouts, but the peripherals will help.

15 day
OF Jason Kubel, Twins. It seems like we're always waiting for Kubel to be a consistent producer, yet he keeps disappointing. But he's hot right now, hitting .359 with 11 runs, four homers and nine RBIs over the past 15 days. Playing time will always be an issue -- Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire hates lefty/lefty matchups with Kubel -- but, as we all know, Kubel has the potential to help fantasy teams over the long haul. Is he finally putting it together? I have my doubts, but he's still worth a flier.
2B/1B/OF Jeff Baker, Rockies. Yes, Baker's 15-day splits look impressive -- .414, 10 runs, three homers, six RBIs, one SB -- but you have to look a little deeper to see he's only played in nine games during that time span. Some might say that makes his numbers even more noteworthy, but I say that shows he's on the bench far too often. Yes, the fact he's hit a homer in each of his past three games might buy him some more playing time, but it's far from a lock. Baker's versatility gives him value, but it's tough to count on a platoon player who hits significantly better at home than on the road.

30-day

SP Ricky Nolasco, Marlins. I've written about Nolasco before, but the guy just keeps pitching well. He's had one bad start since May 3, and if you take that outing away, his stats over the 30 days are even more impressive. As it stands, he's 5-1 with a 3.46 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 30 Ks in 39 innings. Without that start at Atlanta on June 5, he's 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 28 Ks in 33.1 innings. Yes, the kid is pitching great, and he deserves to be owned by more than 23 percent of teams in SN leagues.
OF David DeJesus, Royals. I've never been a big fan of DeJesus -- he does some things well, but nothing spectacular -- but there's no denying how hot he's been the past month. DeJesus is hitting .342 with 17 runs, five homers, 19 RBIs and three steals over the past 30 days. That kind of all-around production is worth a starting spot on most teams. DeJesus is a poor bet to keep this up -- after all, his career-high in homers is nine -- but maybe this is the year he finally breaks out, stays healthy and has a solid season. Either way, he certainly should be owned by more than 55 percent of teams in SN leagues.
SP Kenny Rogers, Tigers. The old man is up to his old tricks. Rogers has gone 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13 Ks in his last 41.1 innings. Obviously, the K rate is poor, but it's tough to fault a guy pitching that well. He's gone at least seven innings in each of his past five starts, and he hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of those contests. However, you shouldn't get too excited over Rogers. He's faced the Giants, White Sox, Indians, A's, Angels and Mariners during the past month, and only the White Sox have an above-average offense in that group. Rogers is worth an add right now, but monitor him closely.

Associate editor Matt Lutovsky is a fantasy baseball expert for Sporting News

Read more...

Fantasy Baseball News Get'em Set'em

Fantasy Baseball News

Going Gangster - 06/20/2008

BY Aaron Gleeman


Mariners fire McLaren, turn to Riggleman

Mets manager Jerry Manuel: 'I'm a gangster'

Zambrano to have shoulder examined

Report: Yankees bring Ponson back to AL East

Report: Mariners plan to release Sexson next

Reyes tweaks hamstring, hopes to play Weds.

Report: Rays reach deal with top pick Beckham

Jerry Manuel's first game as Mets manager became an eventful one Tuesday when Jose Reyes resisted when asked to leave after tweaking his hamstring. Reyes apologized for the modest act of insubordination afterward and returned to the lineup Wednesday by going 3-for-5 with a stolen base and three runs, but Manuel's amusing take on the situation is definitely worth passing along anyway. Asked what exactly happened with Reyes, Manuel (seemingly) joked: "I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him. I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you. You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field." Manuel then explained that he's "not here to make friends or for people to like me," which is good because the New York media isn't exactly known for its friend-making ability. Whatever happens with Manuel and the Mets-my guess is that he probably finishes out the season with a winning record, yet still gets replaced-he's provided my early pick for Managerial Quote of the Year. There's still plenty of time for Ozzie Guillen to reclaim the top spot and Jim Leyland is always a good darkhorse pick, but for now at least the thought of Jerry "American Gangster" Manuel going after Reyes with a sharpened blade is the leader in the clubhouse.While Manuel tries to change the laid-back image that he had while managing the White Sox to a .515 winning percentage from 1998-2003, here are some other notes from around baseball .

As of this writing Carlos Zambrano has avoided the disabled list, but he's expected to miss his scheduled start Tuesday at the very least after leaving Wednesday's game with a sore shoulder. Zambrano is slated to undergo an MRI exam with a dye injection Friday, at which point the Cubs should have a better idea about his status. Rather than shifting veteran Jon Lieber from the bullpen to the rotation, the Cubs may choose to replace Zambrano with Sean Marshall. Marshall logged over 100 innings with the Cubs in each of the past two seasons, but has spent much of this year at Triple-A. He has a 4.18 ERA and 21-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six starts there and the 25-year-old southpaw has a 4.81 ERA in 237.2 career big-league innings. Marshall projects as a solid mid-rotation starter long term, but a mediocre strikeout rate will keep him from having big-time fantasy value and he's unlikely to be an asset in the short term.

It was only a matter of time once Eddie Guardado took over as the Rangers' primary setup man, and sure enough manager Ron Washington hinted following Thursday's game that C.J. Wilson is in danger of losing ninth-inning duties. Wilson blew a save Wednesday, but was asked to work Thursday for the third straight day anyway and retired just one of the four batters he faced before being yanked in favor of Jamey Wright (Guardado had already pitched a scoreless eighth inning). At 37 years old and with his injury history Guardado is far from a sure thing to remain healthy and effective, but he's looked solid through 28 appearances, posting a 3.70 ERA and .202 opponent's batting average. Washington said Thursday that the Rangers "still have trust" in Wilson and he's converted 14-of-16 save chances, but a 5.04 ERA and lack of consistent command seemingly have the team considering a switch. For now, Guardado is a solid pickup in AL-only leagues.

Continuing his season-long trend of going public with a plan only to change his mind days later, manager Lou Piniella announced Wednesday that Kosuke Fukudome will take over as the Cubs' primary leadoff man until Alfonso Soriano returns. Piniella initially said that Reed Johnson would lead off with Soriano out, but perhaps thought better of it after noticing Johnson's .325 career on-base percentage against right-handers, which includes a measly .292 mark this season.Fukudome's power has been disappointing thus far, but he's done a fantastic job getting on base against all pitchers, posting a .413 OBP against righties and reaching at a .375 clip against lefties. He's homered just five times through 70 games, but has drawn 47 walks and is on track to score 105 runs, which is a pace that will rise if he remains atop the lineup. Meanwhile, with righty James Shields pitching Johnson was out of the lineup Thursday in favor of Micah Hoffpauir.

Eric Gagne threw a bullpen session Thursday and reported no problems, saying afterward that he hopes to return from the disabled list on June 27. Gagne has been sidelined since May 21 with rotator cuff tendinitis and struggled prior to the DL stint, which is why manager Ned Yost revealed Thursday that Salomon Torres will remain the Brewers' closer even after Gagne returns. "Closing, setting up, third inning, I don't care," Gagne said. "I just want to compete, get back on the mound.

AL Get'em Set'em:

Days after canning general manager Bill Bavasi, the Mariners fired manager John McLaren and replaced him Thursday with ex-Cubs skipper Jim Riggleman . Meanwhile, with rumors of his impending release swirling, Richie Sexson remains on the roster for now . Joba Chamberlain turned in his best start Thursday, allowing one run while racking up nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings . Rocco Baldelli went deep twice in a minor-league rehab game Wednesday at Single-A . Jason Bartlett was scratched from Thursday's lineup after fouling a ball off his foot during batting practice, giving Evan Longoria his first career start at shortstop . Mark Teahen went 3-for-4 with his seventh homer Thursday, matching his total from all of last season . Scott Feldman tossed seven innings of two-run ball in a no-decision Thursday, giving him a 4.33 ERA in 10 starts after spending the first five years of his career as a reliever . Jermaine Dye homered twice Thursday, including his seventh career grand slam . No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham agreed to a quick deal Thursday, accepting a $6.15 million signing bonus from the Rays.

NL Get'em Set'em:

Jay Bruce struck out three times Thursday before being ejected for arguing balls and strikes, and is now in a 7-for-42 (.167) slump . Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth inning Thursday, but the Brewers' bullpen almost blew a seven-run lead before hanging on to win 8-7 . Despite going 9-for-21 (.429) to begin his minor-league rehab assignment, Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Jeff Keppinger (knee) isn't ready to return from the disabled list because "his legs are still sore" . Willy Tavares collected three hits and a stolen base Thursday, giving him a dozen steals in 16 games this month . Aaron Harang coughed up five runs on 10 hits Thursday to join Barry Zito and Joe Blanton as MLB's only 10-game losers, which is interesting given that all three pitchers began their careers with the A's . Kris Benson (shoulder) made his first rehab start Thursday at Single-A, serving up three homers in two innings . Russell Branyan homered again Thursday, giving him 10 long balls (and 24 strikeouts) in 20 games since being called up from Triple-A.

Read more...

Player Watch Update

Grady Sizemore - OF, Cleveland Indians
Jun. 14, 1:25 a.m.Grady Sizemore hit a pair of homers as the Indians defeated the Padres 9-5 on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: Sizemore took Josh Banks and Mike Adams deep tonight. He has four homers in three games and he's hit in 10 straight, so he's really stepping up as is necessary with both Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner on the shelf.

Kelly Shoppach - C, Cleveland Indians
Jun. 14, 1:23 a.m.Kelly Shoppach had a two-run homer, two walks and three runs scored Friday against the Padres. Fantasy Source spin: Shoppach should be pretty valuable while Victor Martinez is out. He has three homers in his last four games, and he has 11 homers in 247 at-bats since the beginning of 2007.

Garret Anderson - OF, Los Angeles Angels
Jun. 14, 12:32 a.m.Garret Anderson returned to action on Friday and went 1-for-3 against the Braves. Fantasy Source spin: Anderson was the DH tonight. He didn't play Wednesday because of a sore right knee.

Juan Uribe - 2B, Chicago White Sox
Jun. 13, 11:42 p.m.Finally making his first start since coming off the DL on May 31, Juan Uribe had a two-run single to help the White Sox beat the Rockies 5-4 on Saturday. Fantasy Source spin: Alexei Ramirez had the night off. As well as Ramirez is swinging, it seems unlikely that Uribe's big hit tonight will get him any additional time at second base this weekend. Perhaps he could be used at shortstop to give Orlando Cabrera a day off.

Jason Kubel - DH, Minnesota Twins
Jun. 13, 11:31 p.m.Jason Kubel went 2-for-5 and hit his third homer in five games Friday against the Brewers. Fantasy Source spin: Kubel has six homers in the five games. That he's heating up could give the Twins a bit of a dilemma for the rest of their games in NL parks. Even if Michael Cuddyer (hand) can play on Saturday, the Twins might still be better off with either he or Delmon Young on the bench to keep a spot open for Kubel.

Manny Ramirez - OF, Boston Red Sox
Jun. 13, 11:08 p.m.The Red Sox said Manny Ramirez's hamstring was bothering him during Friday's game before he came out. Fantasy Source spin: "We talked about it before the game and then he said he was really feeling it, so we took him out," manager Terry Francona said. "And that certainly makes it hard, because it certainly limits you when the game starts, but you don't want to hurt him worse than he is." Ramirez is expected to sit out Saturday's game. Either Coco Crisp or Brandon Moss will start.Source: RedSox.mlb.com

Magglio Ordonez - OF, Detroit Tigers
Jun. 13, 11:04 p.m.Magglio Ordonez homered as part of a 2-for-4, two RBI night Friday in a win over the Dodgers. Fantasy Source spin: Marcus Thames also homered in the game. The blast was Ordonez's tenth this season and the two RBI move his total to 42. He's currently hitting .311 with 36 runs.

Matt Stairs - DH, Toronto Blue Jays
Jun. 13, 10:54 p.m.Matt Stairs, batting second, connected for a two-run homer in the third inning Friday that led the Blue Jays over the Cubs. Fantasy Source spin: Scott Rolen also homered in the inning, and those three runs held up. Stairs is hitting .261 this year with 25 RBI and now eight total homers.

Eric Hinske - OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Jun. 13, 10:39 p.m.Eric Hinske drove in two runs Friday and finished 2-for-3 as the Rays topped the Marlins. Fantasy Source spin: Dioner Navarro added a two-run double, while Akinori Iwamura, Gabe Gross, and Jason Bartlett drove in a run apiece. Hinske improves his average to .250. He has 33 RBI and 23 runs scored this season.

Frank Thomas - DH, Oakland Athletics
Jun. 13, 10:31 p.m.Not having made as much progress with his strained quad tendon as expected, Frank Thomas has been told not to participate in any baseball activities until July 1. Fantasy Source spin: The hope was that he'd return next Friday after the A's were finished playing in NL parks, but that won't happen now. As a result, both Daric Barton and Jack Hannahan will keep their jobs. One could be dropped from the roster after Thomas returns.

Kevin Millar - 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Jun. 13, 10:26 p.m.Kevin Millar, in the lineup after leaving Thursday's game early, drew three walks and managed to rack up two RBI Friday as the Orioles beat the Pirates. Fantasy Source spin: Seven of the Orioles' starters had at least one hit. Luke Scott contributed a homer, while Ramon Hernandez, Aubrey Huff and Brian Roberts drove in runs. Millar is hitting .251 with 36 RBI this season.

Michael Cuddyer - OF, Minnesota Twins
Jun. 13, 9:23 p.m.Michael Cuddyer left Friday's game in the first inning with a bruised right hand. Fantasy Source spin: X-rays were negative after Cuddyer was hit by a David Bush pitch. Delmon Young, who was supposed to get a rare day off, replaced Cuddyer in the game against the Brewers.

Hank Blalock - 3B, Texas Rangers
Jun. 13, 7:51 p.m.Hank Blalock (carpal tunnel syndrome) will begin a rehab assignment Monday and hopes to be activated before next weekend. Fantasy Source spin: Blalock took two rounds of batting practice Friday for the first time since undergoing wrist surgery at the end of May. "My hand feels a little weak for not having heat in so long but I'll get as many repetitions this weekend as I can and go from there," he said. He'll start his rehab Monday at Triple-A Oklahoma, but should be in the minors for only three or four games. The Rangers still plan to start him at first base once he returns.Source: Rangers.mlb.com

Manny Ramirez - OF, Boston Red Sox
Jun. 13, 6:37 p.m.Manny Ramirez is making his first start in left field in 11 days against the Reds on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: He can't DH in a National League park. Ramirez has been bothered by a strained right hamstring, and there's a good chance he would have missed at least a few games if not for David Ortiz's absence opening up the DH spot.

Ryan Sweeney - OF, Oakland Athletics
Jun. 13, 6:02 p.m.Athletics activated outfielder Ryan Sweeney from the 15-day disabled list. Fantasy Source spin: Sweeney should reclaim his job as the center fielder against right-handers. Carlos Gonzalez will move to right field, though he could continue to play center against some lefties. That would put Emil Brown in right.

Travis Buck - OF, Oakland Athletics
Jun. 13, 6:01 p.m.Athletics optioned outfielder Travis Buck to Triple-A Sacramento. Fantasy Source spin: Buck and Carlos Gonzalez had essentially produced at the same rate since they were recalled on the same day, though they went about it differently (Gonzalez had the better average by 90 points; Buck had a 3-0 lead in homers and a 7-1 edge in walks). As similar as they were, we figured Buck would be the one to stay. However, the A's will keep Gonzalez for now and shift him over to right field. Expect him to play pretty regularly there.

Carl Crawford - OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Jun. 13, 5:03 p.m.Carl Crawford will begin serving his four-game suspension with Friday's game against the Marlins. Fantasy Source spin: He might need a break anyway, as he's been playing for weeks like he's banged up. Crawford's absence finally gets Cliff Floyd back into the lineup tonight. He will DH, with Eric Hinske playing left field and Willy Aybar at first base.Source: St. Petersburg Times

Sean Casey - 1B, Boston Red Sox
Jun. 13, 5:00 p.m.Sean Casey appealed his three-game suspension which was due to begin on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: Casey's suspension was supposed to start the game after Coco Crisp's ended. That's the way MLB does it, even though it knows 95 percent of the players are going to appeal anyway.Source: RedSox.mlb.com

Alberto Gonzalez - 3B, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 2:54 p.m.The Yankees recalled Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Fantasy Source spin: The Yankees weren't using Shelley Duncan's bat, so they decided to fill his roster spot with someone who at least offers some defensive versatility. Barring an injury, Gonzalez figures to see little action.

Shelley Duncan - 1B, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 2:52 p.m.The Yankees optioned Shelley Duncan to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Fantasy Source spin: Duncan is 10-for-57 (.175) on the season and had just one at-bat since May 30, thanks in part to the Yankees facing only one lefthander over the past 13 games.

Chone Figgins - 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Jun. 13, 12:10 p.m.The Angels activated Chone Figgins from the disabled list. Fantasy Source spin: Figgins' made it through just one game before heading back to the disabled list last time, but he'll slide right into the starting lineup. He is a safe fantasy play after going 2-for-10 during a minor league rehab assignment.

Travis Hafner - DH, Cleveland Indians
Jun. 13, 9:26 a.m.Travis Hafner might not be fully recovered when the Indians bring him back in the coming weeks. Fantasy Source spin: The team's head trainer said it would be "hard to speculate" if Hafner will be 100 percent. And manager Eric Wedge says "it's just a question of what percentage he can give us." Hafner's ailing shoulder has been used as an excuse for his struggles thus far this season, and while it might be improved when he returns, it doesn't seem it will be healed.Source: Akron Beacon Journal

Luke Scott - OF, Baltimore Orioles
Jun. 13, 9:04 a.m.Orioles manager Dave Trembley indicated Thursday that he plans on starting Luke Scott more often against lefthanded pitchers. Fantasy Source spin: In 146 career at-bats against southpaws, Scott has a .240 average with four home runs. Fantasy leaguers might do well to continue to selectively use him as a fourth outfielder, especially against tougher lefties, until he shows that he can handle them. He has a .297 average with 10 homers in in 158 at-bats against righties this season.Source: Baltimore Sun

Billy Butler - DH, Kansas City Royals
Jun. 13, 4:09 a.m.Billy Butler homered, doubled and walked Thursday for Triple-A Omaha. Fantasy Source spin: With Butler tearing it up since being optioned out and Ross Gload still doing nothing to justify his existance, the Royals need to be seriously thinking about giving the 22-year-old another chance. He's hitting .377/.441/.679 with three homers and just two strikeouts in 53 at-bats.

Hideki Matsui - DH, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 12:56 a.m.Playing on his 34th birthday, Hideki Matsui hit his fifth major league grand slam to give the Yankees all of their runs in a 4-1 win over the A's on Thursday night. Fantasy Source spin: Matsui's seventh homer in the year followed an infield single and two walks that Joe Blanton was quite unhappy about. He had been without an extra-base hit in 33 at-bats this month.

Robinson Cano - 2B, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 12:50 a.m.Robinson Cano went hitless on Thursday to finish 0-for-12 in the series against the A's. Fantasy Source spin: Cano hit .295 in May, but he's at .224 with just one RBI through 49 at-bats in June. While it was mid-July last year before he went on his tear to finish with strong numbers, he was better than this during the first 2 1/2 months. The Yankees need more from him.Pitchers

R.A. Dickey - RP, Seattle Mariners
Jun. 14, 1:16 a.m.R.A. Dickey, who was moved into the rotation as a temporary replacement for Miguel Batista, was lit up by the Nationals on Friday, surrendering seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Fantasy Source spin: Dickey has been terrific in relief, but he's been roughed up in both of his starts for the Mariners this season. If he's not better next time out, there's a good chance that he'll find himself right back in the bullpen.

Greg Smith - SP, Oakland Athletics
Jun. 14, 1:12 a.m.Greg Smith allowed one run over five innings Friday in a defeat of the Athletics. Fantasy Source spin: Smith overcame six walks, something he probably wouldn't have been able to do versus an American League club. The win was just his second in his last nine starts. If he doesn't impress over the next couple of weeks, he might cease being worth using in AL-only leagues once the A's resume facing AL teams.Next start: 6/13: @SF

Zack Greinke - SP, Kansas City Royals
Jun. 14, 12:44 a.m.Despite issuing seven walks, Zack Greinke shut out the Diamondbacks for seven innings on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: One of the walks was intentional. Greinke allowed just three hits, all of which were singles, so the Diamondbacks never could score. Since he didn't have many long at-bats outside of the walks, he threw only 111 pitches in the contest.Next start: 6/13: @ARI

Gavin Floyd - SP, Chicago White Sox
Jun. 13, 11:41 p.m.Gavin Floyd allowed four runs -- all coming on solo homers -- in 6 1/3 innings Friday in a no-decision against the Rockies. Fantasy Source spin: As a flyball pitcher, Floyd is going to have nights like this. He gave up Ian Stewart's third and fourth career homers tonight, as well as the first hit by Willy Taveras since last June 16. Brad Hawpe hit the fourth and final homer. They were the only hits Floyd allowed.Next start: 6/13: COL

Kevin Slowey - SP, Minnesota Twins
Jun. 13, 11:33 p.m.Kevin Slowey allowed two runs in eight innings and had a two-run single in the Twins' 10-2 win over the Brewers on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: Slowey was shelled by the White Sox last time out, so he still has a 4.70 ERA for the season. However, he's allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts. Mixed leaguers should strongly consider him with the Nationals and Padres next on the schedule.Next start: 6/13: @MIL

Joba Chamberlain - RP, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 11:20 p.m.Joba Chamberlain lasted six innings in his third major league start and held the Astros to one run in a game the Yankees would win 2-1. Fantasy Source spin: Derek Jeter's homer in the eighth was the difference. Shawn Chacon also pitched one-run ball for 6 1/3 innings, so Chamberlain is still looking for his first victory as a starter. He walked four and struck out just two tonight, but all six hits he allowed were singles.

Kyle Farnsworth - RP, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 11:18 p.m.With Mariano Rivera needing a day off, Kyle Farnsworth got a save chance in a 2-1 game against the Astros on Friday and pitched a scoreless ninth. Fantasy Source spin: They just don't get any more reliable. Farnsworth hit Ty Wigginton to start the inning, but that didn't stop the Astros from having Michael Bourn try to bunt. A popup followed, and the only reason it wasn't a double play -- Bourn made no attempt to run out of the box -- was that Farnsworth was too dense to drop the ball. After that, Wigginton, a noted speed demon who swiped seven bases just four years ago, was thrown out trying to steal second. Reggie Abercrombie, who is in MLB only because of his legs, remained in the dugout throughout. Geoff Blum then fanned to end the game. It was Farnsworth's first save since 2006 and the 52nd time Cecil Cooper was outmanaged this season.

Armando Galarraga - SP, Detroit Tigers
Jun. 13, 11:08 p.m.Armando Galarraga pitched seven innings of shutout ball Friday as the Tigers blanked the Dodgers 5-0. Fantasy Source spin: Galarraga moves to 6-2 on the year. The Dodgers managed only three hits as Galarraga walked only one and fanned five. He's definitely worth a shot in AL-only leagues and some deep mixed leagues, especially now that he has some job security resulting from Jeremy Bonderman's injury. There's no reason to think he won't pitch well against the Giants next week.Next start: 6/13: LAD

A.J. Burnett - SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Jun. 13, 10:58 p.m.A.J. Burnett held the Cubs to four hits and two earned runs over five innings Friday as the Blue Jays beat the Cubs 3-2. Fantasy Source spin: Burnett wasn't great. He walked four batters, but made a big stride from his horrible performance last week. He did manage seven strikeouts however and lowered his season ERA to 4.90. Burnett could move above .500 with a win over the Brewers next week.Next start: 6/13: CHC

Andy Sonnanstine - SP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Jun. 13, 10:49 p.m.Andy Sonnanstine moved to 7-3 Friday night, but allowed three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings to the Marlins. Fantasy Source spin: Sonnanstine pitched a little better than those numbers sound. He had a rough first inning, but retired 12 batters in a row between the second and fifth. He didn't walk a man and struck out six. He'll meet the Cubs next.Next start: 6/13: FLA

Brian Burres - SP, Baltimore Orioles
Jun. 13, 10:34 p.m.Brian Burres allowed six earned runs in six innings Friday to the Pirates, but the offense carried him to a win. Fantasy Source spin: Burres let up eight hits and walked three. His control was off, but after a rough third inning he didn't allow a run. The bullpen was perfect through the end of the game when George Sherrill picked up his 22nd save. Burres now carries a 5.28 record and probably doesn't deserve a spot in the Orioles' rotation. If he gets another start, it'll be against the Astros.Next start: 6/13: PIT

Scott Feldman - SP, Texas Rangers
Jun. 13, 10:12 p.m.Scott Feldman got lit up Friday by the Mets, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- over five innings. Fantasy Source spin: The Mets managed eight hits off Feldman, who also walked two. He struck out just one batter, and moves to 1-3 on the year. He's up against the Braves next week, though he shouldn't be considered as a spot starter by even the most desperate of fantasy leaguers.Next start: 6/18: ATL

Justin Masterson - SP, Boston Red Sox
Jun. 13, 9:42 p.m.Justin Masterson struck out nine, but allowed three earned runs in a loss to the Reds Friday night. Fantasy Source spin: Masterson let up only four hits, but walked three and served up homers to Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn. Masterson falls to 3-1, but those strikeouts and his 2.90 ERA are plenty of reason to get AL-only leaguers excited. He'll have a tough test against the Phillies next week, but he's definitely worth owning.Next start: 6/13: @CIN

Jeremy Accardo - RP, Toronto Blue Jays
Jun. 13, 8:47 p.m.Jeremy Accardo's ailing forearm flared up Thursday during a rehab appearance. He'll be out several days. Fantasy Source spin: Accardo has been on the disabled list since May 10 with a right forearm strain. He had yielded one run on three hits in two innings for Single-A Dunedin, but might need to start his rehab from scratch after this incident.Source: BlueJays.mlb.com

Juan Rincon - RP, Minnesota Twins
Jun. 13, 8:41 p.m.Juan Rincon has rejected his assignment to Triple-A Rochester. Fantasy Source spin: The Twins now have 10 days to trade or release the struggling reliever. His career stats should lead to some offers, but there's a good chance he ends up just getting released. Rincon had a 2.93 ERA from 2003-2006, but has definitely been a bit off recently. He had a 6.11 ERA in 28 innings this season. "I've got to go do something, find another team to make it back to the big leagues," he said.

Joaquin Benoit - RP, Texas Rangers
Jun. 13, 7:30 p.m.The Rangers are considering placing Joaquin Benoit on the disabled list to make room for Saturday's starter Kason Gabbard. Fantasy Source spin: The Rangers would probably prefer to throw Robinson Tejada and his 13.50 ERA on the DL, but Benoit has been complaining of shoulder pain this week and hasn't pitched since last weekend. Benoit has allowed six runs in his last three appearances, so some extended rest might be good for everyone. "He hasn't been what he was last year and we'd like to get him back to where he's normal again," said pitching coach Mark Connor. The move will be made early Saturday.Source: Rangers.mlb.com

Al Reyes - RP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Jun. 13, 6:50 p.m.Rays placed RHP Al Reyes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 10, with right shoulder tendinitis. Fantasy Source spin: Reyes has been battling his shoulder all year, and this is his second DL stint. He has a 4.02 ERA in 15 2/3 innings.

Troy Percival - RP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Jun. 13, 6:50 p.m.Rays activated RHP Troy Percival from the 15-day disabled list. Fantasy Source spin: Percival will resume closing right away, putting Dan Wheeler back into a setup role.

Jordan Tata - SP, Detroit Tigers
Jun. 13, 6:41 p.m.Tigers sent RHP Jordan Tata outright to Single-A Lakeland. Fantasy Source spin: Tata isn't hopeless, but since he has been awful in the Florida State League of late, there was little chance of him getting claimed. A smart move by the Tigers to free up a spot on the 40-man.

Daisuke Matsuzaka - SP, Boston Red Sox
Jun. 13, 5:49 p.m.Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to make a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday and rejoin the Red Sox five days later. Fantasy Source spin: That means Justin Masterson should make two more starts, including tonight's, before returning to the minors. Dice-K has been out since May 27 with a strained shoulder.

Esteban Loaiza - RP, Chicago White Sox
Jun. 13, 4:58 p.m.White Sox placed RHP Esteban Loaiza on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 12, with a right shoulder inflammation. Fantasy Source spin: Instead of being released, Loaiza heads back to the DL with a supposed injury. The White Sox probably won't consider bringing him back until after he makes a few rehab starts.

J.J. Putz - RP, Seattle Mariners
Jun. 13, 3:03 p.m.The Mariners placed J.J. Putz on the disabled list, retroactive to June 12, with a hyperextended right elbow. Fantasy Source spin: Manager John McLaren initially expressed optimism that Putz would avoid the DL, but he'll now miss at least two weeks after leaving his Wednesday appearance in obvious discomfort. Brandon Morrow takes over as the Mariners' closer and gains a ton of fantasy value after dominating in 22 outings as a setup man.

Roy Corcoran - RP, Seattle Mariners
Jun. 13, 3:00 p.m.The Mariners recalled Roy Corcoran from Triple-A Tacoma. Fantasy Source spin: Corcoran replaces J.J. Putz on the roster and has minor league closing experience. But he merely will fill a middle-relief role with the Mariners after posting a 5.02 ERA and 11/13 K/BB ratio in 14.1 innings at Triple-A.

Esteban Loaiza - RP, Chicago White Sox
Jun. 13, 11:05 a.m.The White Sox's official site reports that the team is expected to release Esteban Loaiza prior to Friday's game. Fantasy Source spin: The team had been unhappy with his conditioning, and wasn't pleased that he could reach only the low 80s on the radar gun. The 10-day experiment of having Loaiza pitch in mop-up situations didn't hurt, but the Sox clearly feel he no longer has his best stuff. Adam Russell likely will be called up to take his place.Source: WhiteSox.mlb.com

Joba Chamberlain - RP, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 10:27 a.m.Joba Chamberlain will be allowed to throw around 95 pitches in his start on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: Assuming he lasts that long, the outing effectively will end his pitch count. Chamberlain says his body has been responding well to getting stretched out, and that his legs are "getting there."Source: Newsday

Joel Zumaya - RP, Detroit Tigers
Jun. 13, 9:47 a.m.Joel Zumaya (shoulder) said Thursday that he reached 100 mph on the radar gun in a recent outing. Fantasy Source spin: Good news considering he's coming off reconstructive shoulder surgery. Zumaya is reportedly 25-30 pounds lighter after undergoing his rehab regimen, and also admitted that he considered retiring after suffering his injury. The Tigers hope to have him back on June 20.Source: Detroit Free Press

Jake Westbrook - SP, Cleveland Indians
Jun. 13, 9:22 a.m.Jake Westbrook had successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was transferred to the 60-dat DL on Friday. Fantasy Source spin: He'll fly to Cleveland today and begin physical therapy for what should be a 10-14 month rehab.Source: Akron Beacon Journal

Esteban Loaiza - RP, Chicago White Sox
Jun. 13, 9:18 a.m.The White Sox were disappointed to realize that Esteban Loaiza hadn't been working out or throwing before they signed him on on June 4. Fantasy Source spin: In all fairness, it probably doesn't take a ton of work to maintain his low-80s fastball. He's issued just one run in three innings of work for the White Sox, but the team is clearly not satisfied with his stuff. "We would like to see more, see more fastball. We know he has pitchability. He's going to have some time to show us, but we have our work cut out for us," pitching coach Don Cooper said.Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Andy Pettitte - SP, New York Yankees
Jun. 13, 12:54 a.m.Andy Pettitte threw eight innings and allowed one run Thursday in a win over the A's. Fantasy Source spin: Pettitte followed up one of the worst outings of his career (10 ER in 6 2/3 IP versus Kansas City) with his best performance since April 20. Still, he is sporting a 4.45 ERA despite a particularly easy schedule. Not one of his 14 starts to date has come against a team in the top 10 in the majors in runs scored.Next start: 6/18: SD

Read more...

DL, getting full And More Bad News

V-Mart Closed for Business

06/13/2008

BY Aaron Gleeman

Victor Martinez left Wednesday's game after injuring his right elbow on a first-inning swing and was placed on the disabled list Thursday in preparation for surgery to remove bone chips. In part because he's a catcher and needs to be throwing at full strength again before returning, Martinez is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Coming back sooner is possible if Martinez is used at designated hitter, but that would only be an option if Travis Hafner struggles to return from a shoulder injury.With Martinez sidelined, Kelly Shoppach figures to play nearly every day behind the plate given that light-hitting minor-league veteran Yamid Haad is now his backup. Shoppach went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs Thursday, giving him a modest .241/.291/.408 career mark in 404 major-league plate appearances. However, 13 homers and 55 RBIs over that time make him a solid pickup in AL-only leagues who may even be worth a mixed-league look if you're hurting for catching help. Martinez was batting just .278/.332/.333 with zero homers in 217 plate appearances, so his hitting won't be as tough to replace as it would have been in past years. However, adding his injury to Cleveland's disappointing 31-36 record may signal that the Indians will begin shopping impending free agent C.C. Sabathia. Asked Wednesday about possibly trading Sabathia, general manager Mark Shapiro gave sort of a non-answer, which in itself is very different than his previous stance. While the Sabathia rumors slowly start swirling, here are some other notes from a round baseball .

Jake Peavy returned from the disabled list Thursday and showed no signs of rust despite sitting out a month with a strained right elbow, holding the Dodgers to three hits over six shutout innings. Manager Bud Black said before the game that Peavy would likely be on a "soft pitch count" of 90, but he exited after using just 72 to record 18 outs. Peavy struggled somewhat leading up to the DL stint, going 1-3 with a 4.71 ERA over five starts, so his return outing was very encouraging.

J.J. Putz has been diagnosed with a hyperextended elbow after leaving Wednesday's game in obvious discomfort following one batter. That sounds bad, but probably qualifies as good news given that the Mariners have yet to place him on the disabled list in the hopes that he can return to action after a few days off. He's scheduled to be examined Monday, making him unavailable through at least the weekend while Brandon Morrow fills in at closer.

Milton Bradley reportedly attempted to confront Royals television announcer Ryan Lefebvre in the press box following Wednesday's game due to what he felt were unfair comments made on the air. Bradley was able to keep an eye on the broadcast while serving as the team's designated hitter and took offense to a comparison Lefebvre made between him and Josh Hamilton. Luckily manager Ron Washington and general manager Jon Daniels intervened before things got ugly. Bradley then headed back to the clubhouse in tears and addressed his teammates. "All I want to do is play baseball and make a better life for my kid than I had, that's it," Bradley said. "I love all you guys. I'm strong, but I'm not that strong." It sounds like the troubled Bradley hasn't changed a whole lot off the field, but he's having a career-year on the field by leading the league in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.454), slugging percentage (.629), and OPS (1.082).

While he didn't physically go after anyone, Livan Hernandez did direct an angry post-game rant at the Indians' announcing crew Thursday, accusing them of "talking bad about everybody" and suggesting that they "can wait outside in the parking lot and say something to me like a man" if they aren't interested in speaking to him in the clubhouse like other media members. Of course, Hernandez was only able to catch the broadcast because he was knocked out of the game early. He coughed up seven runs on a dozen hits over three innings, marking the fifth time in the past seven starts that he's allowed double-digit hits and at least five runs. He began the year 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA, but since then has posted a 6.85 ERA in 12 starts, amazingly allowing 115 hits over 68.1 innings. You'd be touchy too if your 5.84 ERA ranked third-worst in the league behind Miguel Batista and teammate Boof Bonser, both of whom have been demoted to the bullpen. It's a shame that no one could have possibly seen Hernandez's implosion coming.

AL Quick Hits:

Eric Hurley looked decent enough in his MLB debut Thursday against the Royals, but showed the weakness that'll probably keep him from being a fantasy asset by serving up two homers . Chone Figgins (hamstring) went 2-for-10 on a minor-league rehab assignment and is expected to return from the disabled list Friday . Manager Ron Washington said Wednesday that Eddie Guardado is now the Rangers' primary setup man, putting him first in line for saves behind closer C.J. Wilson . Playing Thursday on his 34th birthday, Hideki Matsui smacked his fifth career grand slam to produce all the Yankees' runs in a victtory over the A's . Jason Varitek sat out Thursday's game with strep throat . Just 13-for-97 (.134) with an ugly 33-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio for his career, Brandon Wood headed back to the minors Thursday . As a Minnesotan it pained me to watch, but Daily Dose favorite Aaron Laffey turned in another strong start Thursday, holding the Twins to one run over six innings . Kevin Millar left Thursday's game after fouling a pitch off his knee, but X-rays were negative and he's considered day-to-day.

NL Quick Hits:

Johan Santana racked up 10 strikeouts in seven shutout innings Thursday, but got stuck with a no-decision when Billy Wagner blew his third straight save . Ryan Doumit went deep again Thursday, making him 9-for-11 with four homers and two doubles over the past three games . J.J. Hardy was scratched from Thursday's lineup and flew back to Milwaukee to have his sore shoulder examined . Jamie Moyer completed eight innings Thursday for the first time since April of 2006, holding the Marlins scoreless on just two hits while improving to 5-0 over his last six starts . Freddy Sanchez went 0-for-5 and left nine runners on base Thursday, dropping his batting average to .239 . Bronson Arroyo tossed six shutout innings Thursday and also went 2-for-2 with a homer at the plate . With Matt Capps needing a day off Thursday, Damaso Marte picked up his first save since 2005 . Jeff Weaver was released by the Brewers after posting a 6.22 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A . One day after saying that he's considering retiring following the season, Ray Durham notched his 2,000th career hit Thursday.

Read more...

Fantasy Update looking ahead

PICKUP OF THE WEEK
I don't trust him any farther I can throw him, but for the short term, Kyle Davies has some AL-only value. Since rejoining the Royals' rotation, he has a 1.53 ERA in three starts. He is a two-start pitcher next week against the Albert Pujols-less Cardinals and the offensively challenged Giants. Since May 19, Kansas City starting pitchers have only three wins (hey, didn't you used to be Zack Greinke?). Brian Bannister has one of those wins, and Davies has two. So, don't be so skeptical about Davies' chances. The guy shut down the Rangers' top-ranked offense Wednesday before the bullpen blew the win.

KEEP AN EYE ON
No joke: As a freshman in college, I lived next to a guy named Thor. Thus, I still chuckle every time I hear Matt Thornton's name. However, his AL-only owners are laughing all the way to the bank (or wherever they're headed). Thornton has at least one strikeout in eight of his past nine appearances, and his ERA is back below 3.00 for the first time since mid-April. With the White Sox back on track, that also should add up to more holds. ... Since starting the season 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA, Micah Owings is 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA. He should be prepared for a long overdue and massive free-fall in the rankings next week. Between Owings' failures and Doug Davis' inconsistency, Max Scherzer owners have to be pretty hopeful right now. ... The beauty of fantasy baseball is you can take the good without the bad. In the case of the Mariners, you can take Ryan Rowland-Smith and leave the rest of the garbage untouched. Rowland-Smith is unscored upon in his past 10 appearances (11.1) innings and can provide AL-only ERA help. ... Staying in Seattle: Take away his two starts against the Red Sox (one earned run in 12 innings), and Erik Bedard's ERA jumps from an already unimpressive 4.26 to a sickening 5.10. Boston and Seattle don't meet again until late July.

CLOSER WATCH
Here we go again with J.J. Putz. The guy has been banged up all season and had to leave Wednesday's outing because of a sore elbow. Brandon Morrow shut the door and should be the hot pickup in any Roto league. Now we'll have to wait and see if Morrow will be anything more than a short-term pickup. ... Rafael Soriano is dealing with some elbow discomfort (surprise!), so Manny Acosta should handle the save situations in the short term. Trouble is, Acosta (two blown saves, 15.75 ERA in June) suddenly has turned into Armando Benitez. ... And speaking of soreness, Huston Street's groin is bothering him. As a result, Alan Embree or Keith Foulke -- depending on the matchups -- could get a spot save. ... Dan Wheeler's closer days soon will come to an end because Troy Percival is due back Friday. ... If Billy Wagner needs a break, who will the Mets turn to? Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman have been awful, and Scott Schoeneweis doesn't have closer stuff. That makes Joe Smith (24/8 K/BB ratio) a dark horse. ... It's worth noting that Ryan Franklin has a 6.75 ERA in his past seven appearances. Meanwhile, Chris Perez continues to impress. Call me crazy, but I expect Perez to get closer consideration before Jason Isringhausen returns.

Staff writer Chris Bahr is a fantasy baseball expert for Sporting News.

Read more...